Using these descriptors, it is possible to build a multiple regression model, an equation to predict the activity of interest:
activity = intercept + (const1) * (descriptor1) + (const2) * (descriptor2) + (const3) * (descriptor3) ...
In this case, the “activity” represents the Dependent variable (also called the Response variable) and the “descriptors” represent multiple Independent variables (also called Explanatory variables).
This equation is an expansion of the standard formula for a straight line:
y = slope * x + intercept